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If you’re feeling stuck with a $100 a month cable package, YouTube TV and DirecTV Now are two streaming services that can cut your bill in half.

For $40 a month, the cable and satellite TV alternatives offer local news, sports and dozens of the most popular networks like ESPN, Disney, TBS, USA, CNN and more.

But before you sign up for either service, you need to know about some key differences…

3. Cloud DVR

DirecTV Now only recently added 20 hours of free cloud DVR storage to its plans, while YouTube TV has offered unlimited cloud DVR storage from the very start.

Cloud DVR: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Unlimited cloud DVR storage

Recordings kept for 9 months

20 free hours of cloud DVR storage

Recordings kept for 30 days

In October 2018, YouTube TV addressed one of the biggest complaints about its service, which involves the DVR.

When users went to view the content they recorded, they were sometimes forced to watch a video on-demand (VOD) version with unskippable advertisements — not the DVR version that lets you fast-forward through the ads.

In a tweet, YouTube TV announced a deal that makes a lot more content immediately available for DVR playback:

You asked, we listened. Enjoy more of your favorite recorded shows with full control to pause, rewind, & fast forward anytime during playback. Thanks to our partners @AMC_TV, @Disney, @FOXTV, @NBCUniversal & @Turner for making their content immediately available for DVR playback!

4. Multiple streams

With most live TV streaming services, you can use the same account to stream on multiple devices at the same time.

For example, a service that allows two simultaneous streams would let you watch your favorite show on the living room TV and the kids can watch something else in the basement.

You can stream on two screens at once with DirecTV Now and three with YouTube TV.

Multiple streams: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Stream on up to three devices at the same time

Stream on up to two devices at the same time

$5/month for a third stream

5. Minimum internet speed

Like other live TV streaming services, a high-speed internet connection is required for YouTube TV and DirecTV Now. To avoid any buffering issues, most services recommend a minimum internet download speed of more than 10 Mbps.

12 Mbps: Minimum recommended download speed for broadband connections to the home

6. Supported devices

You can stream on your phone, computer or to your TV using a supported device. YouTube TV and DirecTV Now both support popular affordable streaming devices like Google Chromecast, Roku Express and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

If you’re a first-time streamer, you can pick up one of these devices at big-box stores like Best Buy for around $40 or less.

Supported devices: YouTube TV vs. DirecTV Now

Google Chromecast

Roku

Apple TV

Amazon Fire TV

Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X

Google Chromecast

Roku

Apple TV

Amazon Fire TV

7. Overall performance and reliability

Several members of Team Clark have extensively tested DirecTV Now and YouTube TV since the services first launched.

YouTube TV has a stronger performance track record overall because DirecTV Now got off to a rough start, though it has made significant improvements to reduce buffering and error messages.

“My favorite of all the streaming products is YouTube TV. It has a pretty wide array of television programming, but what’s really neat is that multiple people could be watching different things at the same time and everybody has an unlimited DVR,” Clark says.